Dear Gossips,    

Remember all those headlines about BTS going on a “break”?!?! LOLOLOLOLOL

What f-cking break? As a fan of BTS, I am having a harder time keeping track of all their updates now than it used to be before this non-existent, not-happening break! And it’s not just because they’re all doing the most with their solo projects – but speaking of solo projects, j-hope’s album, Jack In The Box, released last Friday, has been very well received by music critics and fans both inside and outside of Korea. I’ve listened to it a few times front to back the last few days, and it’s fresh flow and fire, for sure, but I haven’t yet had a chance to do a deep dive on the lyrics which is why I can’t write extensively about it yet. That said, in a piece for NYLON, India Roby just declared that this album proves that he’s “one of K-pop’s greatest lyricists”, if that tells you anything about the individual talent that each member of BTS can both bring to the collective and activate on their own. 

 

Next weekend j-hope will be headlining Lollapalooza so, to go back to my original point, this will result in even more catch-up and homework for the band’s faithful, me included. And it’s already been a busy week, starting with the official announcement the other day that they are the ambassadors for Busan’s World Expo bid. RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook were all on hand for the ceremony and there’s a concert planned for October. 

 

Then yesterday Benny Blanco finally confirmed it – BTS and Snoop Dogg will feature on his new song “Bad Decisions” with a rollout schedule: 

Which means that BTS has a chance at yet another Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit and for the third year in a row. It could also strengthen their chances for another Grammy nomination and for the third year in a row. 

 

WHAT BREAK?! I haven’t even included all the examples of the other new content they released this week on their social media channels. 

Plus – V’s reality spin-off series, In the Soop: Friendcation, co-starring his celebrity friends Choi Woo-shik, Park Hyung-sik, Park Seo Joon, and Peakboy premieres on Disney+ tomorrow…but maybe not in North America? Maple ARMYs, I am trying to get clarification through some media contacts. This is not a card I pull often…but I always pull it, shamelessly, for BTS. Will keep you posted. 

Yours in gossip,

Lainey